Waseem
A Novel
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Skyhorse Publishing
Publishing:23rd Oct '25
£21.99
This title is due to be published on 23rd October, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of a doomed love and a young man’s education in hope.
In the crowded streets of a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, Waseem has learned to navigate life with quiet resilience. Born with a disability that leaves him largely unable to speak or walk, Waseem’s world is shaped by the small, intimate details of camp life.
For years, Waseem has shared a deep, unspoken bond with Ameena, his best friend and the girl he has silently loved from afar. Ameena, a fierce and compassionate spirit, has always been there for Waseem, supporting him through every challenge. The friendship is both fueled and challenged by their secret ambition––to travel to Palestine, their beloved but unreachable ancestral home.
Waseem is in turn a tear-wrenching and hilarious journey of friendship, love, and exile. It explores the intersections of physical and emotional healing, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Waseem's story is one of determination and transformation—a testament to the power of love and the unbreakable connection to one's roots, no matter how distant they may seem.
Praise for Lilas Taha
“A heart mender and a heartbreaker, Waseem is a deeply moving tale of how life and love persevere in the ruins. Taha is a marvel.” —Junot Díaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao
“Waseem marks Lilas Taha as a writer to watch. You’ll laugh out loud, shake with rage, and battle back tears as Taha’s unforgettable protagonist fights for a better life in a Palestinian refugee camp. Like Huckleberry Finn and Scout Finch, Waseem is a character you never want to leave behind—he lives and breathes on these pages, and that’s a testament to Taha’s wonder of a novel.” —Ross Barkan, author of Glass Century
“Taha weaves the political and the personal into an enthralling, fast-moving story, showing how Palestinians’ life events and needs might be similar to everybody else’s, were it not for the fact of their dispossession.” —The Jordan Times
“A beautiful and moving tribute to the strength of the human spirit and the endearing power of love.” —Ann Weisgarber, author of The Glovemaker
ISBN: 9781648211270
Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 28mm
Weight: 499g
312 pages